Representative Mark Pless has voted to approve House Bill 103: 2022 Appropriations Act. The legislation passed both chambers and awaits the Governor’s signature. This bill modifies the 2021 budget bill and includes several provisions that will positively impact House District 118. Many of these appropriations will be disaster relief related: the Town of Canton will receive $8.3 million to repair and rebuild multiple buildings and the Town of Canton Park playground. $5 million will be distributed for debris removal resulting from Tropical Storm Fred, and the Agricultural Crop Loss Program will receive $5 million more in funding to help farmers affected by the storm. $5 million is also provided for private bridges and roads damaged or destroyed during flooding. $5 million is added to a separate crop loss program for those affected from the April 2021 freeze disaster, and Yancey County is now included on the list of the program’s eligible counties. Other appropriations for the district include $3,050,000 for a wastewater treatment plant in Yancey County, $150,000 for Bethel baseball and softball field facilities, another Assistant District Attorney slot for the 43rd Prosecutorial District, and funding for another Assistant Clerk for the Clerk of Superior Court in Haywood County. These two new positions will hopefully alleviate some of the backlog on the judicial system caused by the COVID19 pandemic. Finally, Haywood and Madison Counties will each receive $1.5 million in Community Development Block Grants as reimbursement for drug treatment-related expenses. Further information will be released soon on exactly how these funds can be used. “Our office is pleased with the appropriations for these important projects and positions, stated Rep. Pless. We have been working hard this session to listen to the needs of the district and secure funding based on those needs and suggestions. While we did not secure all of our requests, we will continue to advocate for them in future budgets.”
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